Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

May 1st, 2024

Believe It Or Not

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What’s Up?

The past few mornings at ILE have been very good. I’ve been working with both the a1 and the a9 iii. I’ve had some neat behavioral chances with several pairs of adult Sandhill Crane chicks and made the most of some but not all of them. The three small colts continue to do well. There are lots of Ospreys and Mottled Ducks around as well.

Today is Wednesday 1 May 2024. I just got back from the lake. It was another great morning. The highlight was a copulating pair of Mottled Ducks; story and one or more photos soon. Believe it or not. I hope that you too have a great day.

The gentleman from Vermont did not appreciate yesterday’s To Improve Your Bird (and Nature) Photography By Leaps and Bounds, Be Sure to Bookmark and Study this Page blog post here as much as I though he might. He sent this e-mail soon after it was published:

Thanks Art – the kingfisher photo looks better, and I will try my best to learn how to get closer to the birds.

I read the blog post, and there is a lot of good information there. However, I don’t appreciate the implication that I am some rich fool who has never learned the basics or simply ignores them. Is that what a teacher calls a student who needs help? I came to you for help, knowing you would be honest and helpful. Did I flaunt my expensive rig and come off as someone who thought they were a good photographer because of my gear? I think not.

And what was the point to providing a detailed inventory and cost of my gear, and then commenting that “he made just about every possible beginner mistake, and as you might imagine, most of the images were horrific at best.” That stung – were trying to make me look like a fool? And calling me a “gentleman” does not minimize the harsh language.

In any event, thanks again for the information and help you provided on the phone call.

How would you have responded to him?

field-of-tickseed-3200-blossoms-_A1G8576-Indian-Lake-Estates-FL-Enhanced-NR

This image was created on 30 April 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Working from the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 2000. 1/2500 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file exposure was determined to be dead solid perfect. AWB at 8:12:43am on sunny morning.

Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C performed perfectly even at 1200mm. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.

Image #1: Tickseed blossoms with hill and lake in background
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Spared from the Mowers

The North and South Fields and the South Peninsula are mowed regularly. I noted the beautiful stand of tickseed blossoms on Monday but there were no birds in the neighborhood. I hoped that they might be spared for a few days. After driving around for an hour and making some neat images, I stopped to created a pattern shot of the flowers, the hill just north of the parking circle, and the distance lake.

Dealing with Bright, Super-saturated Colors

Rarely, you may come across an image that shows zero Ov-Exp pixels in RawDigger (or an image that you are sure is not over-exposed), but when you bring it into ACR, hold down the option key, and put the cursor on the WHITE slider, a given bright, super-saturated color shows as totally over-exposed. That is what happened with the yellow flowers in Image #1. In the past I would move the Highlight slider and the WHITE slider all the way to the left. At times, even that would not eliminate the apparent over-exposure.

Working on a Greater Prairie Chicken image on my recent trip, we encountered the same problem with the bright orange sac of the displaying males. Friend Anita North suggested a possible fix. We tried it and it worked like a charm. The fix will be revealed in the first image of the Digital Basics III Video Series, Volume II, #1.

Digital Basics III, Volume II

Volume II of the Digital Basics III Video Series will consist of 13 individual videos, each with a single image optimization. Each video will be available in the BAA Online Store for $10.00. Or, folks can purchase the baker’s dozen, all 13 videos for only $99.00. This saves you a handsome $31.00. Believe it or not. Details soon.

Sandhill-Crane-3200-with-yellow-flower-background-_A930127-Indian-Lake-Estates-FL-Enhanced-NR

This image was also created on 30 April 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. On foot and crouching a bit, I used the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 500: 1/2500 sec. at f/4.5 (stopped down 1/3 stop) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be perfect. AWB at 8:29:26am on a sunny morning.

Tracking: Expand Spot/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.

Image #2: Sandhill Crane adult head and neck portrait with yellow flower background

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Believe It Or Not

After I created Image #1, I spotted a pair of crane walking toward the stand of tickseed blossoms. I left the car parked on the grass, grabbed the 300 with the 1.4X and the a9 iii and approached slowly. When the bird veered to my left away from the flowers, I walked to my left to get in front of it and slowly walked right toward it, forcing it toward the flowers. The bird cooperated nicely.

Have you ever herded a crane?

Anyhoo, I crouched a bit to maximize the amount of yellow behind the bird.

So why did I leave the a1 in my SUV and grab the a9 iii for a static shot? Because I am far more confident in a9 iii bird-eye AF than I am in a1 bird-eye AF.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

April 29th, 2024

To Improve Your Bird (and Nature) Photography By Leaps and Bounds, Be Sure to Bookmark and Study this Page

7 comments

Supporting My Efforts Here

In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars.

Live Life to the Fullest

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Don’t Look Now

Don’t loo now, but the recent mini-streak ended yesterday.

Confession

If you re-read the last blog post carefully, you will see that I never said exactly that the young lady in the selfie with me was Caitlin Clark. She was not. When I saw the young woman seated nearby, I asked her if she was Caitlin. Smiling and blushing, she said “I am not.” Her friend chimed in, “Everybody asks her if she’s Caitlin!” I know for a fact that I got a few folks, April-Fool’s-Day style.

What’s Up?

You have heard me make this point repeatedly for many years: Many, if not most of the bird photographers whom I run across in the field own ten, twenty, or even $50,000 or more of the best gear available, yet they have virtually no idea as to how to make a good photograph. None, zero, nada. Either they have never learned the basics, or they simply ignore them. The gentleman from Vermont featured in today’s post is a perfect example of what I am talking about. I urge everyone to change their life by joining a BIRDS AS ART Instructional Photo-Tour and to check out everything below. I am not gonna be teaching forever …

I continue to be baffled by folks who think that purchasing an expensive long lens and a great mirrorless camera body will make them a good (or at least better) bird photographer. Instruction, study, and practice are overlooked. And if you do not study seriously or get some good instruction, no amount of practice will help you improve.

Since I got home from North Dakota I watched every hole of the Masters golf tournament — Scottie Scheffler was too good. On Sunday, I watched about ten hours of PBA (Professional Bowler’s Association) events — Kudos to EJ Tackett who was also too good last week. I did get some work done, mostly on this blog post, but other than my swim I took things easy on Sunday. I did not even head down to the lake in the morning despite perfect conditions.

Today is Monday 29 April 2024. I have lots to do. And I will be heading down to the lake at least for a bit to see what’s up. I hope that you too have a great day.

A Life-Changing Phone Critique?

Yesterday, I did a phone critique for a gentleman from Vermont. He posted his ten best images from a recent trip to Texas. He used a Nikon NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens and the top-of-the line Nikon body, the vaunted Nikon Z9 Mirrorless Camera. At $12,067.90, his rig would not qualify as an inexpensive kit. Oh, I forgot that he uses a Robus RCM-439 4-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod topped by a Wimberley MonoGimbal Head. That brings the total to $12,386.85 plus at least another $500.00 or so for some flash cards.

I told him right off that the good news is that he is making sharp images and that he had captured some interesting behaviors. But. And there were lots of buts. He made just about every possible beginner mistake, and as you might imagine, most of the images were horrific at best.

We talked about sun angle, getting lower and choice of perspective, seeing the shot, head angle, subject to imaging sensor orientation, and most importantly for him, the fact that the backgrounds in bird photography are often more important than the subject. At times it was difficult for him to grasp what I was talking about, but we stuck with it, and the result was many “Aha-s.

I had him send me two raw files and was not completely surprised to see that they were both huge crops. So, he also needs help on getting closer to his subjects. .

After 40 minutes on the phone, he sent me these comments via e-mail:

Thanks for the critique! Lots to learn, for sure. I went out this afternoon to practice paying attention to the backgrounds. It was fun and I’m getting the hang of it. It was too cloudy to practice sun angle. Next time.

I replied:

Thanks. On all but the darkest, cloudiest, dreariest days, the light still has a direction, and you always want that light behind you.

The best news is that the gentleman from Vermont sought help and is looking to improve.

I promised him an improved and expanded version of the previously published list of steps that folks need to master in order to consistently create good images of birds. Here it is:

The Basics That Many Folks Ignore

1- Look for good situations. Learn to see the shot. Don’t just see the beauty of the bird, look for clean backgrounds: birds on small rises or ridges, or those perched on a clean branch or on an elevated rock. When working a group of birds, it is usually best to isolate by getting closer or adding a teleconverter. This skill is best improved by attending one of more Instructional Photo-Tours. And by getting down on the ground when photographing shorebirds!

2- See the background, not just the bird. Cluttered backgrounds, those with sticks and branches, those with unusually light or dark areas, those with crap in the water, and/or those that are too close to the bird must be avoided. Look for lots of distance from the subject to the background. As a general tule, the farther the background is from the subject, the softer, more de-focused, and more pleasing it will be.

3- Practice your stalking skills so that you can get learn to get reasonably close to a bird without scaring it off.

4- Strive to position yourself so that the plane of the bird’s body is parallel to the plane of the imaging sensor (or angled to some degree towards it). If the bird’s tail is closer to you than its head, you are shooting up the bird’s butt. Such photos are only very rarely successful.

5- Getting down to the bird’s eye level — yes, that often means getting down on the ground, will often clean up otherwise distracting backgrounds. Similarly, shooting up at a bird atop a pole or a tree will not produce pleasing images.

6- On sunny days especially, consider the sun/light angle. In general, it is best to have the sun behind you so that your shadow points to within ten or fifteen degrees (at most) of the subject. Remember that on cloudy days, the light still has a direction; you always want that light behind you. Paying attention to sun angle reduces or eliminates distracting shadows.

7- Understand that birds will generally fly into the wind, face into the wind when perched or on the ground, and take off into the wind. Thus, by understanding the relationship between sky conditions and wind direction, it is often possible to know in advance whether you should stay home of get out there. Furthermore, on cloudy days it almost always pays to keep the wind at your back.

8- Set a shutter speed that will allow you to create a sharp image.

9- Select an AF mode or point that will yield the framing that you want, and ultimately, a pleasing composition. If you are using a zoom lens, zoom in or out as needed. For images of the whole bird, be sure to avoid clipping wingtips or feet. And remember, if an object is worth including in the frame, it is generally best to include the whole thing with a small border around it.

10- Set a good exposure by adjusting the ISO.

11- Keep the lens as still as possible. With long fast lenses, using a tripod is often best.

12- Be aware of the bird’s head angle. Depending on the situation, you will usually want the bird’s head turned one to three degrees toward you.

13- Depress the shutter button gently. Do not jab it.

14- Work on your post-processing skills. The gentleman from Vermont had one decent image but executed a huge crop and ruined the image completely when optimizing it.

15- Many folks state that they want to create prize-winning images of birds in flight and in action. I urge them and you to first learn to create excellent static portraits by mastering the 14 points above. Only after you can do that consistently will you be ready to step up to the next level. One step at a time.

As for using a tripod, there are many advantages of using a decent tripod topped by a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro:

1- Making sharper images at slower shutter speeds (and correspondingly lower ISOs).

2- Slowing you down thus allowing you time to check your exposures and your framing. That said, there are times when one or two seconds can make or break you. The more familiar you are with your gear, the better you will be able to succeed when time is of the essence.

3- The Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro enables smooth, level panning when on a tripod, especially when doing flight photography on a tripod.

Best Advice

If you can afford an IPT and have some matching free time, sign up ASAP. Check out the possibilities here.

If you cannot afford an IPT and/or to take time off to attend one, consider these suggestions for improving:

1-Subscribe to the blog and read and study it here.

2-Purchase and study the information in the two-book bundle here. Study them. They will become your bird photography bible.

3- Purchase and study the BAA Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II) here.

4- Join BirdPhotographers.Net here and start posting your images in the Avian Forum.

5- Look at and study as many top notch bird photographs as possible. Ask yourself what it is that you like about each and ask yourself what you do not like.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.

April 27th, 2024

Bismarck to Orlando Travel Adventure (& Misadventure)

11 comments

Supporting My Efforts Here

In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars.

Live Life to the Fullest

Join an Instructional Photo-Tour. Better yet, sign up for both Homer trips.

Don’t Look Now

Don’t look now, but this post marks 30 consecutive days with a new educational post written just for you.

What’s Up?

All three of the crane chicks that were alive when I headed to North Dakota are alive and well and are now small colts. The two baby Bald Eagles are now both fledged and flying.

Toady is Saturday 27 April 2024. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you enjoy every breath. I will be creating Volume I/Number 5 of the DB III video series tomorrow. It will be distributed on Monday.

If you plan on purchasing a Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera (or anything else for that matter), please remember to use or write for either my Bedfords discount code or my B&H affiliate link. Folks who use one of my two affiliate links to purchase the a9 III will receive my .DAT settings (the complete camera set-up) along with a Buttons and Dials Guide.

Please remember to use the B&H links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!

If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

Join me in Little Rock, Arkansas this May for a great weekend of learning and fun. You can check out any and all of the latest/greatest photo gear. If you know any good nearby spots for bird photography, and/or if you would like a free (5-image) portfolio review, shoot me an e-mail.

Little Rock Photo EXPO
A Bedford Event: Inspire, Learn, Discover
HUGE TWO DAY INTERACTIVE TRADE-SHOW
May 17-18, 2024
State House Convention Center
101 E. Markham St., Little Rock, Arkansas

Don’t miss the Photo Expo in Little Rock! Regardless of your experience level, join hundreds of photographers, as we take over Little Rock on May 17-18, 2024. The Little Rock Photo Expo offers a remarkable experience packed with presentations, hands-on demonstrations, and a massive trade show featuring all the major photographic companies. Explore the latest gear, trade in your old camera equipment, and gain valuable insights from our experts. Get up close and personal with world-renowned keynote speakers and seize countless unique photo opportunities. Bring your camera and get ready for a weekend of fun, learning, and inspiration to elevate YOUR photography to new heights.

Click here to learn more and follow the links to see the schedule of events and/or register. Use this discount code at checkout to save $20.00: VIPEXPO24.

Save 15%!

If you’d like to try out a new lens or if you need a lens for a specific trip or project (or for an IPT), LensRentals.com is the only way to go. To save 15%, simply click on the logo link above, arrange for your rental, and type in BIRDSASART15. If you type the gear you are looking for in the search box, it will pop right up. LensRentals.com offers affordable insurance. You can decline it, opt for LensCap: Damage Only, or select LensCap: Damage & Theft. Then hit PROCEED TO CHECKOUT. After you enter all of your info but before completing your order, be sure to scroll down to Promo Code box and enter the BIRDSASART15 code to save 15%.

I checked on renting a Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens for a week. The cost is only $122.00. LensCap: Damage Only coverage can be added for a very low $18.00. Going with LensCap: Damage & Theft would be $27.00. The shipping charge varies. They offer an interesting program called Lensrentals HD. By signing up for this shipping discount program ($99.00/year), you’ll get free Standard Shipping on all the orders you place.

Renting a Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens for a week will cost you $536.00. The two coverage options come in at $76.00 or $114.00. Less your 15% discount when you enter the BIRDSASART15 code into the Promo Code box at checkout and enter the BIRDSASART15 code in the Promo Code box at checkout to save 15%.

Remember, to save the 15% on your rental you must start your search by clicking on the logo above, or on this link: LensRentals.com

B&H

To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but greatly appreciated. And, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. B&H will reopen on Fri April 14. Thanking me for the past 4000 educational blog posts could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your B&H receipt for major purchases.

Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.

Bedfords Simplified

Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Either is greatly appreciated by yours truly.

Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy

Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, prior purchases.

Visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often stave you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.

Selfie

Bismarck to Orlando Travel Adventure

Does the young woman above remind you of anyone? When I got back to my seat, my laptop, and my Think Tank Bag with my small bag of ($84/pound) shelled pistachio nuts, the woman in the iPhone image was sitting a few seats to my right. The moment I saw her I did a double take and exclaimed, “Are you Caitlin Clark?” She smiled and was quite gracious when I asked her to take a selfie of us. And she did!

Elite 8 Performance

In this year’s Woman’s March Madness Tournament, Caitlin Clark let her team to the championship game for the second year in a row. And for the second year in a row, they were denied by a better team. LSU in 2023, and South Carolina in 2024. In the YouTube video above, she shows off here amazing skills. She was recently drafted by the Indian Fever. WNBA rookie salaries are determined by draft position. Clark’s base salary for her first year in the WNBA will be about $76,000. Her four-year deal is worth a total of $338,056, a mere pittance when compared to NBA rookie contracts. No worries; just this week she signed a $28 million shoe-endorsement deal with Nike.

Bismarck to Orlando Travel Humbling (Misadventure)

We landed a bit early at DFW in the B Terminal. I needed to get to take the train (Skyline) Terminal D for my flight to Orlando. The car I was in was fairly crowded. I stop with my laptop bag resting atop my large Think Tank Rolling Bag. A well-dressed guy in his early 50s looked up at me and asked, “Would you to sit?” When I lived in NYC I rode the subway and the busses often and over the years, offered my seat countless times to little old ladies. This however, was a humbling first for me. I thanked him and said, “I am fine.”

The (New) Remove. Tool!

In the Re-Visiting Cape Coral’s Burrowing Owl’s blog post here, the optimized version of Burrowing Owl chicks at burrow was Image #3. I wanted to share theBefore and After images with you so I created the animated GIF above. In addition to the considerable clean-up work with the Remove Tool (AKA the Dead Grass Removal Too), I did some Eye Doctor work, darkening the pupils of both chicks, and lightening the iris of the out-of-focus bird.

You can learn precisely how to use the Remove Tool (and tons more) in the Digital Basics III Video Series.

The Digital Basics III Video Series

I realized about a year ago that my digital workflow had changed significantly and was toying with the idea of writing Digital Basics III. More recently, I have learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a huge step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics.

As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series was born.

You can subscribe to Volume I and save $26 by ordering the first five videos in one fell swoop. You can purchase the five videos in Volume I by clicking here. The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI and for those familiar with the techniques detailed in the earlier versions of Digital Basics.. Especially Digital Basics II.